A1 Record Breakers
Christian Vietoris is now A1GP’s youngest ever winner thanks to his Feature race victory in Taupo – with his A1 Team Germany squad also becoming the first squad to have three different drivers win races for it.Vietoris took the chequered flag at just 18 years, nine months and 19 days old, beating the previous record for youngest A1GP winner by exactly five months. That record was held by the team’s former driver, Nico Hulkenberg, who won on his debut in Zandvoort in 2006.With Michael Ammermuller winning in Zhuhai last month it means that Germany is the first team to have three different drivers reach the top step of the podium in its colours.‘I didn’t think this would happen before I came here, it is fantastic,’ said Vietoris.‘We were only a few tenths off on Friday and we improved the car all weekend. But it was a really good result. The Feature race did a really good job and the team did fantastic pit stops and put me there.‘After Michael Ammermuller won, I also wanted to win. And now I have. After this win now, I want to race more in A1GP.’Vietoris was a surprise choice for lead driver in Taupo after Ammermuller’s strong performance in Zhuhai, but his two podium finishes today proved the decision was the right one.‘This is simply great,’ said seat holder Willi Weber. ‘After Michael Ammermüller’s win in China, the team has secured a back-to-back win in New Zealand with Christian Vietoris.‘It shows our driver choice was right, with our policy of nominating them for different events. But today’s race has not only been won by strong performances on the track, the team has done an excellent job in setting the car up and performing two brilliant pit stops which helped Christian getting past France.‘Now we’re back in the thick of the action. The title race is wide open, and our claim to defend the title has become much more realistic now after a slow start to the season.’Youngest winners Age [Y M D] 1 18 09 19 Christian Vietoris GER (Taupo 2008, Feature ) 2 19 01 12 Nico Hulkenberg GER (Zandvoort 2006, Feature) 3 19 10 27 Adrian Zaugg RSA (Zandvoort 2006, Sprint) 4 20 02 00 Nelsinho Piquet BRA (Brands Hatch 2005, Sprint) 5 20 08 22 Sean McIntosh CAN (Sentul 2005, Feature) 6 20 10 06 Salvador Duran MEX (Laguna Seca 2006, Sprint) 7 21 06 07 Nicolas Lapierre FRA (Lausitz 2005, Sprint) 8 21 10 02 Michael Ammermuller GER (Zhuhai 2007 China Sprint) 9 22 00 03 Neel Jani SUI (Dubai 2005, Sprint) 10 23 02 00 Jonny Reid NZL (Sentul 2006, Sprint)